288047 Private
1/6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders, 152nd Infantry Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division.
Age: 32
Date of Death: 8.7.17
Buried: Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery I.F.11
Family History: Son of Mrs Jane Milne and the late James Milne, 11 Tryst Road, Stenhousemuir. He was employed as a moulder with Dobbie, Forbes & Company, Larbert before enlisting in September 1916. Some years before the war he was also a prominent footballer in the district having played for Stenhousemuir and East Stirling Football Club.
He enlisted in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and later transferred to the Gordon Highlanders. Two of his brothers were also in the Army - Private George Milne, RAMC was in Salonica and Driver James Milne, Royal Field Artillery in France.
The action leading to his death
On the 7/8 July the Battalion relieved the 6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders with ’D’ Company in the front line and ’C’ Company in support. Both ’A’ and ’B’ Companies were in reserve in the Canal Bank with Battalion HQ located in Lancashire Farm. During their time in the line they were subjected to heavy shelling and suffered considerably with ten killed and twenty one wounded.
(Linesman Map)
His mother received a letter from the Battalion Chaplain Reverend Henry Coulter and one of his comrades Private Neil McLean. They both wrote that Albert was in the support trenches during the shelling and was killed by a shell fragment. His Commanding Officer, Captain Hutcheson wrote that ‘ He was a brave and good soldier, and did his duty cheerfully and courageously.’
Medals Awarded
The British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Headstone